Cannabis industry sees Florida's marijuana referendum as potential game-changer

While 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana so far and at least 38 have legalized its medical use, Florida presents the industry with a jewel of an opportunity. The Sunshine State has one of the fastest-growing populations in the U.S., a well-established medical marijuana business with more than 800,000 patients, and is one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Some 135 million people visited Florida last year from both domestic and international destinations. [Source: U.S. News & World Report]

Florida Trend Exclusive
Economic backbone: Educating the Fed

Gregory Haile, 46, is the former president of Broward College. He was recently reappointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta for a three-year term and is deputy chair of its board of directors. He spoke to Florida Trend recently about his role on the Fed board and his journey from growing up in Queens in New York City to achieving national prominence as a Fed board member and as a leader in higher education [Source: Florida Trend]

Florida denied flexibility on CDL skills testing

Federal regulators are not convinced that the potential for lost wages for prospective truck drivers outweighs the safety benefits of current rules on how states must administer CDL skills tests. In a notice scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Thursday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration denied a petition by Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles asking that the state be exempted from a federal regulation. [Source: Freight Waves]

The 2024 hurricane season forecasts are alarming. Can history teach us what to expect?

All the early predictions are calling for a very active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. Warm water temperatures provide the fuel storms need to develop and strengthen. Can history give us an idea of what to expect this year? Forecasters with Colorado State University looked at five "analog" years based on above-normal sea surface temperatures and the presence of La Nina. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Florida reefs part of more concerning global ‘coral bleaching event,’ NOAA says

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a new warning about the impact of climate change on our oceans. NOAA says we are experiencing a new “coral bleaching event” for the second time in the last decade. More than half of the world’s coral reefs have seen bleaching in the last year. That includes in parts of Florida. [Source: WFTV]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Eatonville’s bid ranks high to be home of Florida Museum of Black History [Orlando Sentinel]
Eatonville’s bid to become the home of the Florida Museum of Black History grew far stronger this week as state officials ranked it among the top contenders and a new agreement in a legal dispute removed the largest impediment to the town’s preferred museum site. “Location is no longer an obstacle,” said Eatonville Mayor Angie Gardner, adding she believes the town’s bid to now be the best.

› Retrieval of boats sunk by Hurricane Ian near Fort Myers Beach: messy and mind-boggling [Naples Daily News]
The sunk boats now being retrieved from the Matanzas Pass don't look like they have been under water for a year and a half. More like decades. This has been a different kind of boat parade. Muddy, rusty, bruised and battered. They are disfigured, hideous, unrecognizable hunks of junk. What they really are is a hellish reminder of the fiercest and deadliest hurricane to ever cross over Southwest Florida.

› Here’s how Florida’s tourist tax, big for Rays and beaches, works in Pinellas County [Tampa Bay Times]
Budget season for local governments is around the corner, and with it the usual talk of property values and the tax bills local homeowners can expect to face. But in Pinellas County, over the next few months, the pot of money that may get the most talk outside government chambers is one that most residents don’t supply: the tax dollars generated by visitors staying at hotels, motels and other short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs.

› Miami Wilds sues, accusing Miami-Dade mayor of caving to please conservation voters [Miami Herald]
The filing is the first time Miami Wilds has tried to assign motives for Levine Cava switching positions last year on the long-standing plan to let private developers build a water park on existing zoo parking lots in South Miami-Dade. The mayor’s spokesperson issued a statement Tuesday rejecting the claims by Miami Wilds.

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› Sarasota School Board approves agreement with AI-powered writing program, new positions [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
At a matinee meeting of the Sarasota School Board, the board approved various new and revised job descriptions in addition to a new collaboration with an artificial intelligence-powered education program to improve writing skills. The board approved an agreement with PackBack, a computer-based program that uses AI to help students improve their writing and critical thinking skills while also aiding instructors in grading and coaching.

› Here are Orlando's best restaurants, as named by Fodor's Travel guide [Orlando Business Journal]
Fodor's Travel has named its list of the 10 best restaurants in Orlando — and the news rankings from the El Segundo, California-based travel guide company include a challenge to those visiting the City Beautiful to set aside any preconceived notions about its culinary scene.

› Texas company buys 75-employee Southwest Florida-based engineering firm [Business Observer]
A Texas engineering and consulting services company has acquired GradyMinor, a civil engineering firm with two Southwest Florida offices and 75 employees. San Antonio-based Pape-Dawson Engineers is the new owner of the Bonita Springs-based firm, according to a statement. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

› Miami needs $5 billion to fight flooding [Miami Today]
Miami’s new stormwater master plan prioritizes $600 million in near-term infrastructure improvements and anticipates over $5 billion will be needed to shore up the city against flooding and achieve long-term resiliency goals. After extensive research evaluating areas subject to extreme flooding, the City of Miami recently updated its stormwater master plan.